As for Friday night before the ride, or Sunday night after the ride, NO ADVANCE RESERVATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE! YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN!
Currently Gakona Lodge has no cabins available, but they do have several rooms available for both Friday and Sunday.
If you expect to ride, make Gakona Lodge reservations as soon as possible!
DESCRIPTION: One of the most beautiful riding experiences in North America, our Solstice ride is an epic tour of Alaska's Interior via the Gakona - Delta Junction - Tok - Gakona triangle. This 600K has but three turns (plus one itty bitty out-and-back), one of the most spectacular sunsets you'll ever see, and majestic mountain views throughout the ride.
This year we are also offering 100K Populaire and 200K Gakona rides on Saturday, as well as a 200K Tok ride on Sunday. These options are mostly intended for ride workers, bring your own transportation if you plan to ride any combination of the 100K / 200K rides!
PLEASE review the map link -- the 600K is a remote ride, you will be expected to manage 50K to 100K between service stops.The overnight control is located in Tok, we WILL be providing beds for up to five riders. If we have a bigger turnout, you will have to make your own arrangements in Tok at Young's Motel, which is less than half a mile from the designated overnight. PLEASE make arrangements in advance. Drop bag service WILL be available. From Tok it's about 100K to the Slana ranger station (water and restrooms available 24/7), and another 100K from Slana to the finish. There will be no other services along the last 200K outside ride worker support, which will not be available to anyone riding through.
We'll say it again: this is a remote ride!
Water will be available at all controls and cached at a few rest areas along the route.
If you ride through be forewarned that overnight temperatures between Tok and Gakona can dip into the low 30s - even upper 20s - in low-lying areas.
Two years ago the low at the Slana turnaround was 26 degrees at 04:00.
This makes for a very chilly roadside nap! If you need to catch a few zzz's and don't want to get a room, consider doing so in Tok.
We will have a sweep vehicle and (minimal) on-course support for this ride as permitted at designated controls.
There are long stretches without cell coverage.
Please note - after the start, you are on your own!
START/FINISH LOCATION: Gakona Lodge, Milepost 2 Tok Cutoff, Gakona, AK
(Note - Gakona 200K finishes near Delta, and Tok 200K starts in Tok)
BREVET CARDS: 100K BC 200K BC 600K BC 200K BC
CUESHEETS: 100K CS 200K CS 600K CS 200K CS
(Cuesheets also available for download via RideWithGPS links.)
* PENDING *
100K Elevation gain: TBD feet (barometer)
Solstice Populaire 100K GPS (Unofficial)
200K Elevation gain: TBD feet (barometer)
Solstice Delta 200K GPS
600K Elevation gain: 11500 feet (barometer)
Solstice 600K GPS
100K Elevation gain: TBD feet (barometer)
Solstice Populaire 100K GPS (Unofficial)
200K Elevation gain: TBD feet (barometer)
Solstice Delta 200K GPS
600K Elevation gain: 11500 feet (barometer)
Solstice 600K GPS
200K Elevation gain: TBD feet (barometer)
Solstice Tok 200K GPS (Unofficial)
Solstice Tok 200K GPS (Unofficial)
Electronic Proof of Passage: Send EPP here
